Likud and other right-wing parties force-feed austerity. Neoliberal extremism affects Israel like Western states. Voters perhaps don't understand. They have themselves to blame. They favor parties harming their own self-interest.

On January 18, Haaretz headlined "Garbage time: The Likud-right-religious bloc ahead by a large margin," saying:

It's "a foregone conclusion."

"It didn't have to be this way."

"The bottom line remains unchanged."

"Likud-right-Haredi bloc is" way ahead. "Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu (looks) set to win" about double "as many seats as the next-largest party."

Netanyahu will get four more years. Imagine what's likely after all the harm he caused. He'll get public affirmation to inflict it. He'll take full advantage. Jews will be harmed like others.

State terror will remain policy. So will neoliberal harshness. Hard times will get harder. Regional war perhaps looms.

Military strength will be prioritized. Iran is targeted. It's falsely called an existential threat. Syria boils across the border. Occupation harshness continues. Gaza remains isolated under siege.

Most Israelis turn a blind eye to what matters most. They'll vote opposite their interests.

On January 19, the Economist headlined "Which way for Binyamin Netanyahu?"

It's an "open question whether (he) thinks he can get away with continually cocking a snook at" Western governments, "in particular America's, that have become increasingly frustrated by" peace process failures.

Can Netanyahu shift course, or is "his chief mission….stop(ping) Iran from getting a nuclear weapon?"

Don't bet on it, said the Economist. Peace prospects with Palestinians "look remote. Israel's coming election may make it even more so."

The London Guardian agrees. On January 15, it headlined "Peace process dead if Netanyahu wins Israeli election, academics warn."

It doesn't matter whether he chooses ultra-nationalists or centrists as partners. Peace process hypocrisy is official policy. Palestinians never had a legitimate partner.

Amnon Aran is City University of London senior lecturer. Important factors subvert peace, he said.

"Netanyahu has stated very clearly that he is adopting a wait-and-see policy." He won't make concessions. He prioritizes other concerns.

He threatens to attack Iran. He risks embroiling the entire region in conflict. He prioritizes land theft and settlement expansions. He thumbs his nose at world opinion.

Odds favor him to remain prime minister. He'll get another four years. Worse than ever times loom. Israelis will have themselves to blame.

They'll have to explain why they voted against their own self-interest. It won't be for the first time.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.